Warm start to the week before storms return to the Bluegrass

Quiet and mild start to the week

Calm weather will settle across the Bluegrass region Monday morning as clear skies and light winds take hold across central and eastern Kentucky. These quiet conditions may allow for areas of patchy fog to develop late at night and early Monday morning, particularly in river valleys and near the Lake Cumberland region. Dense Fog Advisories are in effect in these areas until 10 AM Monday.

Temperatures overnight will fall into the low to mid-40s, which is still mild for early March.

Monday will feature another warm afternoon across the region. With high pressure sliding east of Kentucky and southerly flow developing, warm air will continue streaming into the Bluegrass. Under mostly sunny skies for much of the day, temperatures will climb into the mid-70s in many areas, with some northern locations topping out in the upper 60s.

Clouds may begin to increase late in the day as the next weather system approaches from the Plains.

Rain returns Monday night and Tuesday

Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will begin surging back into the Ohio Valley Monday night ahead of an approaching disturbance. This will bring the return of scattered showers and a few thunderstorms to the Bluegrass region overnight and into Tuesday.

Rainfall during this period is expected to be fairly light overall, though some storms could produce brief gusty winds. Showers and thunderstorms may continue at times through Tuesday as the system moves through the region.

Stronger storms possible midweek

Attention then turns to a stronger storm system expected to affect the region Tuesday night into Wednesday. As a cold front approaches the Ohio Valley, moisture levels will increase significantly and the atmosphere will become more supportive of stronger thunderstorms.

Current indications suggest scattered storms may develop Tuesday night, with activity becoming more widespread as the front moves closer on Wednesday. Strong winds aloft and increasing atmospheric energy could support strong to severe thunderstorms, along with periods of heavy rainfall across central and eastern Kentucky. The Bluegrass is currently under a Level 2 Severe Weather Risk for Wednesday, with damaging winds being the main threat.

While details will continue to evolve, the midweek system has the potential to bring impactful weather to the Bluegrass.

Cooler air late week

Behind the cold front, cooler air will move into the region. High temperatures are expected to fall back into the upper 40s to mid 50s by Thursday, bringing a noticeable cooldown after several days of springlike warmth. A temperature drop of around 30 to 40 degrees will occur from Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning.

The cooler air may be short-lived, however. Temperatures could begin warming again heading into Friday and next weekend as milder air returns to the region.